Corona virus and going to rehab.

[Burbagegran]

The appearance of the virus has made me wonder, should I still attend me rehabilitation maintenance class on a weekly basis? I have Stage 4 COPD and mild bronchiectasis and I was in hospital last June.

I would be grateful for any advice.

[Hidden]

If its at the hospital they will advise if its not safe. I would be concerned if you find all the people in class are going on holiday to infecting countries though.

[Hidden]

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[beech]

I’m doing pulmonary rehab right now. As you can imagine, CV is a regular topic each week! 🙄 From what I can tell, course mates are not attending when they are unwell, and some are re-thinking long-planned travel in light of evolving events. Not surprisingly everyone is very aware of avoiding whatever infections we can!

We do have the reassurance that we are at the epicentre of our hospital’s respiratory dept, with the opportunity to sort out any problems there and then - well, at least have a direct route to prescribers, physios and consultants if needed.

I drive myself and then walk directly to the department avoiding the main body and corridors of the hospital; the gym we use is large and airy, and all equipment wiped down with antibacterial wipes, plus there are hand gel dispensers everywhere!

So I would hope your fellow attendees would absent themselves if unwell, and you can get advice from the medical professionals as needed.

[Burbagegran]

Thank you for your thoughts, they're much appreciated.

[Rostom]

I am also on a Pulmonary Rehab course at the moment and no one has dropped out yet.

We have been instructed to use wipes for each piece of equipment that we use and we wash hands on arrival and before leaving.

Our instructors don't seem particularly concerned about Covid-19, unless they are playing it cool!

I am due at a weekend event where people will be squashed together -dancing - in a relatively small space. I will ask today if it is OK to go or sensible not to. Can't decide! I am not panicking just wondering what the risk really is.

[stamford1234]

It is a hard call, we are all different. I am not going out at all at the moment and I have asked friends to stay away. I wouldn’t want to catch the virus and wouldn’t want to spread it either. I may be over sensitive because my eldest daughter and family are in northern Italy and anything to avoid quarantining entire areas of the country seems sensible.

[emtb]

I did a pulmonary rehab weekly course last year, which was carried out at a local community centre by NHS nurses and physiotherapists.

Between each cycle of exercises, we were instructed to use antibacterial liquid and wipe equipment as a matter of course.

Not all participants followed the instructions, and though the staff would repeat the instructions and advice, sadly, that relatively small percentage would continue to ignore these simple rules.

I have found this "reluctance" surprisingly in hospital also, the worst example was during my radiotherapy for prostrate cancer a couple of years ago.

This procedure for those who have not been through it, demands pre treatment of self enema and measured fluid in the bladder in order to position those organs correctly for the treatment each day

It shocked me as to the percentage of patients who did not hand wash or sanitise after these ablutions, and the lack of used gloves in the hazardous material binsresulting in my using toilet paper to open doors ect, then purchasing sanitising wipes for the remainder of my month long course of treatment., also resanitising from the many dispensers immediately I left the toilet complex.

This was a busy radiotherapy unit with about 40 patients continually in there throughout the day.

As well as disappointing behaviour, this also destroyed my faith in human nature, and causing me to fear the consequences during this new Coronavirus epedemic.

[mogs302 in reply to emtb]

Urine is sterile, so I think your fears are overblown.

[emtb in reply to mogs302]

The reason for the ablutions was to administer the enema, then evacuate the lower bowel of loose excrement 30 minutes later ... Not so sterile.

My point is that folks who can't be bothered to handwash after using the toilet, and not using antibacterial wash from the dispensers at every ward and unit doorway, such as before entering the radiotherapy unit from the waiting room, are very likely to ignore the present govt and NHS advice to wash hands thoroughly and frequently during this very stressful time, to protect others as well as oneself.

[Burbagegran in reply to emtb]

I don't think they thought their comment through and I do agree with you thar some people won't change their lack of hand cleaning.

[Burbagegran]

Thanks everyone for your input and advice. Our maintenance classes resume next week so I'll see how that goes and make my decision from there. As previously said, not everyone follows instructions about ha d washing and sanitation.

Also being in an enclosed space with a lot of people is worse than being out in the open air in a crowd, so worth bearing in mind.

[Jaybird19]

Yes go . I have h just finished the course held in local hospital gym. Large room double height ceiling so not in restricted air space. I did attend regularly and although my "walk 'results did not show any improvement i have become more mobile . More fit even in that short time. It was a shock to find how weak my arms were weight lifting and that was the lightest weights too. I have enlisted for the follow on course at the local leisure centre too. The 1hr talk each week was enlightening about each of the varying lung conditions. Well worth the time involved. Cost a fortune in parking fees though!

[Burbagegran in reply to Jaybird19]

We're very lucky our physios voluntarily run a maintenance class for us in a community centre gym, it's for an hour every week. That way we are with people who have similar conditions and issues and never pushed beyond what we should do.